USC football preview: Trojans' ball in Kessler's court

As USC prepares to open training camp, starting quarterback Cody Kessler knows his role: to expertly distribute the ball the way a point guard would. &#8220;These guys at the skill positions are a lot more athletic than I am,&#8221; Kessler said. &#8220;My job is get them the ball in space, get them a chance to make plays. Same thing as a point guard.&#8221; EUGENE TANNER, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES – If you happen to see USC football coach Steve Sarkisian on the lookout for prospects in a sweaty high school basketball gym, don’t be shocked. It might be where he finds his next quarterback.

To run his fast-break offense, Sarkisian prefers a quarterback with a point guard’s mentality and skill set — someone who can make swift decisions and set up teammates with crisp, accurate passes. If the quarterback happened to be a point guard in a former athletic life, all the better.

Cody Kessler, who enters training camp Monday as USC’s undisputed starting quarterback, fits that description. The redshirt junior was a standout point guard before becoming a full-time football player. As a sophomore at Centennial High of Bakersfield, Kessler averaged 29.5 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists per game.

The playing surface, footwear, uniforms and shape of the ball are different, but Kessler brings the same mindset to the football field.

“These guys at the skill positions are a lot more athletic than I am,” Kessler said. “My job is get them the ball in space, get them a chance to make plays. Same thing as a point guard.”

Sarkisian served as an assistant for several seasons under Pete Carroll, who preached a similar approach for his quarterbacks, two of whom won Heisman Trophies: You don’t have to do too much. The quarterback’s duties are a little different in the offense Sarkisian now runs. More decisions are made after the snap than before it.

“We rely quite a bit on the quarterback having to make in-play decisions, like basketball,” Sarkisian told the Register this week from the football offices at the John McKay Center.

“Am I going to throw the ball into the post? Am I going to kick it out for the 3-point shot? Am I going to drive myself? Or am I going to pull up for a jump shot?

“A lot of our plays have built-in opportunities for the quarterback that way. So the decision-making is rapid.”

Sarkisian snaps his fingers to emphasize the speed at which those determinations must be reached. He then extends the quarterback-as-point-guard metaphor.

The first responsibility is to get the ball to the right guy. In conjunction with that, it must be delivered to a precise spot where the receiver can do something with it. In basketball, it’s putting a potential scorer in the best position to make a shot.

Said Sarkisian: “Is that chest pass coming to where it is a catch-and-shoot? Or are you putting it on my back hip, and by the time I bring the ball up, here’s the defender?”

Kessler made huge strides in the accuracy department last season, his first as USC’s starting quarterback. In the Trojans’ first seven games, Kessler completed 60.1 percent of his passes. In the final seven, that figure climbed to 69.9. He connected on at least 65.6 percent in six of those last seven.

It helped that the job became Kessler’s and Kessler’s alone. At the start of the season he shared snaps with Max Wittek, a result of then-coach Lane Kiffin’s unwillingness to pick a starter. Neither quarterback played well in a Week 2 loss to Washington State. Kiffin named Kessler the starter for Week 3, and he had his best game. Kessler completed 15 of 17 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-7 victory.

The quarterback controversy was over. If Kessler needed any further affirmation, USC great Marcus Allen delivered it during a midseason speech to the squad when he said: “Cody, this is your team.”

As USC prepares to open training camp, starting quarterback Cody Kessler knows his role: to expertly distribute the ball the way a point guard would. “These guys at the skill positions are a lot more athletic than I am,” Kessler said. “My job is get them the ball in space, get them a chance to make plays. Same thing as a point guard.” EUGENE TANNER, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
As USC prepares to open training camp, starting quarterback Cody Kessler knows his role: to expertly distribute the ball the way a point guard would. “These guys at the skill positions are a lot more athletic than I am,” Kessler said. “My job is get them the ball in space, get them a chance to make plays. Same thing as a point guard.” ETHAN MILLER, GETTY IMAGES
Cody Kessler made huge strides in the accuracy department last season, his first as USC's starting quarterback. In the Trojans' first seven games, Kessler completed 60.1 percent of his passes. In the final seven, that figure climbed to 69.9. He connected on at least 65.6 percent in six of those last seven. STEPHEN DUNN, GETTY IMAGES
USC quarterback Cody Kessler (6) knows his role is to distribute the balls to the Trojans' playmakers, much like a point guard in basketball. Kessler was a standout point guard before becoming a full-time football player. As a sophomore at Centennial High of Bakersfield, Kessler averaged 29.5 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists per game. DAVID CLEVELAND, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Coach Steve Sarkasian's switch to a more up-tempo offense will be a new experience for some Trojans, but not quarterback Cody Kessler, who operated a similar scheme in high school. His learning curve shouldn't be as severe. JONATHAN DANIEL, GETTY IMAGES
As USC prepares to open training camp, starting quarterback Cody Kessler knows his role: to expertly distribute the ball the way a point guard would. “These guys at the skill positions are a lot more athletic than I am,” Kessler said. “My job is get them the ball in space, get them a chance to make plays. Same thing as a point guard.” PAUL RODRIGUEZ, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
USC quarterback Cody Kessler said he feels just as comfortable with the new offense, despite having had only one spring to try to master it. Many of the concepts are similar to former coach Lane Kiffin's system, Kessler said, only now, everything goes faster and almost every play is run out of the shotgun. MARK J. TERRILL, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Coach Steve Sarkasian's switch to a more up-tempo offense will be a new experience for some Trojans, but not quarterback Cody Kessler, who operated a similar scheme in high school. His learning curve shouldn't be as severe. EUGENE TANNER, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
USC quarterback Cody Kessler said he feels just as comfortable with the new offense, despite having had only one spring to try to master it. Many of the concepts are similar to former coach Lane Kiffin's system, Kessler said, only now, everything goes faster and almost every play is run out of the shotgun. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER
“Last year I didn't know if I was going to be the guy, so it's hard to step into that leadership role,” USC quarterback Cody Kessler said. “This year I've taken it upon myself. I take it personal. I want these guys to come ready to work. I want these guys to be prepared and know that I've done everything I can to make sure we're ready.” BILL ALKOFER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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